Understanding Yoga

"A profound way to connect, yoga in the broader sense, is a te  rm that encompasses everything you do.  Yoga is any activity, observance, action, inquiry, etc. that you do that helps you feel balanced..." Syl

There are questions that one may ask if they are contemplating integrating Yoga into their life as I did:

How will Yoga benefit my life?

Practicing Yoga will connect and awaken body, mind and spirit to be able to work the best for you. Developing a regular yoga practice helps to endure your daily stressors  with a lasting sense of calm regardless of what you circumstances. Linking the breath with focus and movement helps cleanse the body of both physical and emotional toxins to help you become more centered and have a more healthy body and mind.

What is the best way to start a your Yoga practice?

First you need to find a competent teacher who has knowledge, insight, training, experience and the ability to to explain the poses and help you get into the them with perfect alignment to the best of your ability, using hands on adjustments as needed. This will help you understand the basis of a yoga practice and how to approach your new practice.  I have found that Bodhi Yoga Center is a great place to be.

Will doing Yoga conflict with my belief system?

The goal of practicing Yoga is to create balance. If you allow Yoga to make it's change in you it will deepen your positive relationships and beliefs and create a well toned body, more focused mind and peaceful emotions and spirit.  In other words, yoga can help you understand "yourself" and deepen what you already believe is true for you.

Getting Started in Yoga

When one is thinking about beginning a yoga practice you may have unanswered questions. I will cover a few personal experiences here but you will find an in depth information at www.gobodhiyoga.com  under FAQ

"Yoga is any activity, observance, action, inquiry, etc. that you do that helps you feel balanced..." 

With the many life changing experiences in my life, practicing yoga has helped me to be calm and grounded and more connected with others.

I was caring for a handicapped husband and working full time and needed a stress release. With the encouragement from my husband I began my journey down the yogi path. I began attending Syl Carson's classes regularly a year before my husband passed away. I developed a sense of calm and peace that I have never experienced before.  I grew to appreciate the knowledge she shared, her calm confidence and her very clear instructions. She made sure that each posture was aligned so I would get the best benefit from it. In Syl's words this is how I began to feel. "The goal of practicing Yoga is to create balance.  The aim is to help you create a more authentic life.  So if you allow yoga to "change" you, it will deepen all your positive beliefs and relationships, and create a well-toned body, a more focused mind, and peaceful emotions and spirit. In short, yoga helps you become more "yourself", it accentuates what you already believe that is true for you."

This helped me get through the death of my husband and adjusting to being alone. I practiced with Syl for a year more and  then was able to go on a mission to Germany with my sister who had also lost her husband. ( http://schwestersisters.blogspot.com/ )I had the confidence to serve well and continued to do a yoga practice on my own at least once a week. I remained in touch with Syl. We used her videos and listened to her CDs. I shared my knowledge with the young Sisters in the mission.

While I was gone Syl acquired a permanent home in which she shares her wonderful knowledge and instruction.  I came home to the Bodhi Yoga Center and my much missed "yogi family".  I felt this was where I needed to focus and so I enrolled in the 200 hour Teacher  Certification.  This began another amazing journey.  Each month for 5 months we met for a weekend of enlightenment, learning and hands on experience under the instruction of Syl. Again I felt the centering I much needed as I adjusted back to my single life.

Following is the curriculum included in the instruction:

500 Page Manual Included in the Bodhi Yoga™ 200-Hour (Yoga Alliance Approved) Teacher Training.  Many DVDs and CDs to use in a home practice
 

Breath, Bone & Gesture 
Introduction to Yoga,  
Foundations of ASANA & Sequencing of Practice, and
Inspired Teaching through  the Bodhi Yoga™ Approach  

Anatomy of  Movement
The Twelve Systems &
Seven Tissues of the Body,
Contexts of Yoga Practice
& Bodhi Flow Vinyasa  

Wisdom of Ayurveda 
Natural Progression: Bodhi Yoga ASANA
Yoga Marmas & Acupressure
Inspired Practices for Hands-on Adjusting-from a Thai Partner Yoga Perspective 

Discovering Your Voice
The Emotions of Movement
Structures of Sanskrit in Yoga 
including Sacred Chant 
& Teaching the Language of Movement  

Choosing Your Path
Teaching Specialized Yoga Classes-Including Bodhi Yoga Kids™  Intuitive Instruction & Energy Healing Aspects of Yoga.

As you can see this is a very comprehensive and informative training.  I felt is well worth my time and money.  I highly recommend it.